I’m not afraid of jail – South African President Zuma tells supporters

South African President Jacob Zuma told supporters today he wasn’t scared to go to prison because he had been incarcerated during apartheid, in his first public appearance since the release of an anti-corruption report critical of him.

“I’m not scared of jail. I’ve been to jail during the struggle,” Zuma told a cheering crowd in his home Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

In a report released last week as thousands of protesters called for the president to step down, South Africa’s anti-graft watchdog called for a judge to investigate allegations of influence-peddling in Zuma’s government.

Zuma denies providing special favours for wealthy friends.

He faces a no-confidence vote in parliament next week after the main opposition called for a vote on Thursday.

Zuma has survived his two previous no-confidence votes this year, largely backed by the support of his ANC (African National Congress) which controls about two-thirds of the assembly.